Message to our friends from our hoomom. If able plz consider donating to a group that provides food for the beloved pets of people struggling right now. Our mum grew up very poor & remembers how hard it was to feed the family & their pet. Share some kindness. Love you all 🩷

💜 Just for today, I'm focusing on what makes me happy--my family, my dogs, volunteering at the donkey sanctuary, enjoying the first snowfall of the season. ❄️ #MindfulCreativity #CreativeWellness #HealingThroughArt #EnergyForCreatives #FocusOnJoy #EverydayMindfulness 💜 🌟 🥰

I’ll be at the Holiday Market in Oshawa this Saturday, Nov 8 with my picture books & YA novels—great gifts for readers of all ages! Over 40 local makers & vendors will be there too. Come say hi! 📚✨ #CanadianAuthor #CanadianIllustrator #ChildrensBooks #YAFiction #ShopLocalCanada #ReadersOfCanada

A girl who can speak to animals. 🌟 A rat who serves a tyrant. 🐀 A secret that could destroy them both.The Great & The Small — a YA story of survival & finding light in the darkness. 💔 ✨ #CBCBooks #CanadianBooks #DarkYA #BookTrailer #StorytellingMatters #BookTokCanada #BookMarketing #IndieAuthor

This blog post is to all of us #writers who like to break the rules. 💥💥💥 #writingtips #WritingYA #CanKidLit #Writerslife #YAfiction www.lecarmichael.ca/2025/11/a-t-...

Ever notice how, no matter how much you achieve, it can still feel like you’re not enough? 🎨✍️ For many of us — especially those carrying old wounds — that feeling runs deep. 💔 #CreativeHealing #MindfulCreativity #ArtistsMentalHealth #SelfCompassion #HealingThroughArt #MentalHealthMatters

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #author #writerscommunity #indieauthor inventingrealityediting.com/2...

Going down the Halloween aisle past life-size "witches," I realized what I was seeing: older women. Here’s to us “witches.” 💜🦋 Read my blog — link in bio. 🔗 #WomenOver60 #CreativeAging #HealingThroughArt #MentalHealthMatters #EnergyMedicine #FeminineStrength #ArtistLife #AuthorLife

These coloring pages include questions that spark meaningful conversations. Use them--and if you have suggestions for more topics, I'd love to hear them. Tag me; I'd love to see your finished pages! 💜 🎨 #CharacterDevelopment #MindfulParenting #RaisingLeaders #CreativeKids #ConsciousParenting

When the rights of Black people and people of color are trampled, the rights of ALL people are trampled ✊🏾✊🏼✊🏿. The oppression of one is the oppression of ALL. #UnityinDiversity is a TRUTH. #HumanRights #UnityInDiversity #EqualityForAll #StandTogether #SocialJustice #OneHumanFamily #LoveIsStronger

My picture books come with free colouring pages you can download from my website. 🖍️📚 They make great gifts for kids—I also do school presentations if your class or library is looking for a visit. 📚 Click link for details. 💛 #kidlitillustrator #picturebookauthor #CanKidLit #readaloudbooks #kidlit

I have some new paintings! 🎨💛 I really love these. They're still available—message me if you want details. #artistlife #intuitiveart #healingthroughart #mixedmediaartist #creativeflow #artasanoffering #quietcreativity #soulfulart #originalartforsale #CanKidLit #Illustrator

When we’re stuck in fear, everything scrambles—our thoughts, our nervous system, our energy ⚡🧠 In this video, I’ll walk you through a simple energy medicine technique to help fear move through you—so it can finally release. 👋😮‍💨 #energyrelease #emotionalclearing #ptsdtools #nervoussystemsupport

We owe it to future generations to work towards a world of true justice and humanity. #climatejustice #socialjustice #ecojustice

Happy Thanksgiving!! May we all find ways of helping others, being of service, being grateful for our blessings, and sharing them. 💜✨💓 #CanadianThanksgiving #GivingThanks #Thankful #SpiritofGiving #helpingothers #makeadifference #CanKidLit #Kidlitauthor #Canada

Congratulations to new Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado for her courageous struggle to bring democracy to Venezuela.

This month's newsletter is about the all the stuff I pushed down and REALLY didn't want to deal with. This month, I DEALT with it. 😱🎨 Read the full story → click the link in my bio. 💪🏻 #healingthroughart #artistjourney #firstartshow #innerwork #ptsdrecovery #artisanoffering #CanKidLit #PTSDHope

Me, too. ❤️

If we want a world of compassion, of true justice--a world based on kindness and mutual respect--it starts with the way we treat animals. #WorldAnimalDay - Oct 4. 💜 #BeKindToAnimals #AnimalRescue #DonkeySanctuary #DonkeysOfBluesky #AnimalAdvocacy #BeTheChange

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.leadnow.ca/petitions/me...

A good day at the Savannah Marketplace at @junglecatworld 🥰 I even met some new friends, like “Tiny” the giant tortoise, a 21 yr-old rescue. 🐢 ❤️ #artistsofbluesky #kidlitillustrator #kidlitauthor #yaauthor #writerslifeforme #CanKidLit

I'm excited about sharing my paintings for the first time & a little nervous! 😅 I'll be selling my books as well, incl. The Great & the Small. Please come out!! 💜 📚 🖌️ 😍 #SupportLocal #DurhamRegion #Clarington #shoplocal #andreatorreybalsara #kidlitauthor #kidlitartist #yalit #savannahmarketplace

"...a story well worth reading." The Great & the Small by @torreybalsara.bsky.social via Midwest Book Review and @storymonsters.bsky.social #YABooks #TheGreatAndTheSmall #YABook #CanKidLit

After years of writing, revising, and starting over—my sister and I BOTH have our novels featured in the September issue of Kirkus Reviews. Same month, same magazine. After DECADES of separate work! 🦋 #AuthorLife #IndieAuthorCommunity #FictionThatMatters #TruthInFiction #YAfiction #KeepWriting

I'm proud to be joining so many amazing local businesses at the Savannah Marketplace at @JungleCatWorld on September 27, where I will be selling my books & paintings! 📚🖌️💜 Grab tickets ➡️ junglecatworld.com/tickets.html... #SavannahMarketplace #SupportLocal #ShopLocal #DurhamRegion #Clarington

Here's some GOOD news, for a change from the cynical & wretched, "If it bleeds, it leads," network news. These are real stories of people working together to make a better world. HOPE is a VERB. 💜🌍 #HopeIsAVerb #BetheChange #WeFlourishTogether #CanKidLit #YAWriter open.substack.com/pub/fixthene...

I thought I would share some images that I did a while ago. Visit my gallery to see more! 🌟 There will be more soon, that I will share as soon as they are finished.😍 #GalleryShare #Kidlitillustrator #artistsofinstagram #AndreaTorreyBalsara #ATBalsara #ArtAsTherapy #CanKidlit

As a #kidlit writer/illustrator & as a #trauma survivor, I know what kids need to feel happy. It's NOT more stuff. What do kids need to be happy? To feel NEEDED, VALUED & LOVED. 💜 The #coloringpages on my website spur conversations that matter. #ConversationsAboutCharacter #BeingofService

I write to help me understand myself/the world & the same questions keeps coming up. 🦋 This is a great article by Jen Craven: "Why I Keep Coming Back to the Same Questions in My Novels—And Why You Should Too." #writingtips #writersofbluesky #kidlit #cankidlit www.writersdigest.com/why-i-keep-c...

Author @torreybalsara.bsky.social joins Sarah on the GSMC Book Review Podcast to talk about her novel The Great and the Small, a gripping story of power, compassion, and survival. Watch here: youtu.be/W5PnCooXfWg #AuthorInterview #GSMCPodcastNetwork

Lately I've been on overwhelm & so did some painting. 🦋 There's something about drawing/painting/illustrating that reminds me who I am. 💜 💜 💜 These illos are from the #YA book, Gavin the Great. 🌟 I ❤️ these. #YABooks #CanKidLit #KidLitIllustrator #artistsofbluesky #mentalhealth #PTSDTherapy

Courageous writing helps us build a world rooted in dignity and unity in diversity. In my Sept newsletter: Fox Creek by Michele Torrey—a powerful novel that shatters the lie of “us” and “them.” Link in my bio & comments! #FoxCreek #Newsletter #WritersForJustice #NoUsAndThem #BookReview

Yes, it does. Being responsive to what is truly within you to express, versus producing a "product" to be sold, is an act of courage. It also means you might need a second job! Lol!

Today I have been painting to such uplifting music--"Sacred" by Natalie Fee, is SO BEAUTIFUL. I have no photos yet of what I'm painting, so I'm adding a photo from a camping trip last year of a gorgeous tree. ❤ #creativeprocess #JoyfulMoments #paintingtips #artistsofbluesky

Check out Colby Jeffers' "Better World" Album and Book by Colby Jeffers on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...

For those who feel helpless...💜 This is for you. #UnityInDiversity #WorldPeaceIsInevitable #BeTheChange #LoveOverHate #SeekTruth

70 years ago, on this date, Emmett Till was kidnapped and brutally murdered by white men. His family, including his cousin who was with him at the time, is repeating the train ride he took from Chicago to Mississippi in 1955 to mark the anniversary

A fantastic idea. 🌞

When an abandoned cat darted into my house one Halloween night, I had no idea what he’d teach me about love, trust, and resilience. 🐾💫 In my newsletter, I share his story—and how I painted his portrait. 🎨 💌 Link’s in my bio & in the comments. #ArtAndHealing #RescueCat #PaintingTips

#author #amwriting #writingcommunity #indieauthor

There's just so much awfulness right now.

Finally, my book has a #Kirkus review. 😍 I'm happy with it. #WritersofBluesky #YALit #YA #CanKidLit #Indie #IndieAuthor

These coloring pages help foster conversations with children that help them feel a sense of purpose, connection, and wonder. Self-esteem doeesn't come from having it all, but from #beingofservice. #ColoringPages #CanKidLit #UnityInDiversity #FosteringKindness #Kidlit #RaisingGlobalCitizens 💜😍

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Writers & illustrators: It's tough sometimes (especially on social media re: publication news, book lists, awards etc), but try very hard to RESIST COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS. Focus on enjoying your own journey. You may be luckier than you think. #KidLit #WriterSky